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An International Missionary Outreach Dedicated to Evangelizing the Lost By Sharing The Gospel According to the Scriptures
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Ministry Update – Myanmar Relief Fund |
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We are grateful to the many supporters who responded to the Myanmar Relief fund created by Understand The times as a result of the devastating cyclone that hit Yangon and area last May. Initially we were able to send funds to our contacts who then dispersed funds and resources to those they could reach who were in desperate need as a result of the disaster. Over the months of July and August our strategy to reach people in need has moved from short term to a long term. We will continue direction to provide humanitarian aid along with establishing long term relationships with people in villages in the hardest hit areas that have largely been ignored. As the population is primarily Buddhist, we see this as a great opportunity to not only extend a hand of compassion and love, but to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and set up Bible believing fellowships that teach the Word of God. Following is a report from one of our leaders that explains in detail what was accomplished by a team of Christians on a recent trip. Names and locations have been removed (for obvious reasons). Reports on Recent Relief Work (August 19-20, 2008)
The Guide and Team The relief team, made up of 11 students of ______ Bible School, was led by Brother ______ who has been serving the Lord in the area where the Cyclone Nargis hit hard back in May 2008. _______ has been known well by one of the team members, ______. Together they arranged the plan and the team followed them in action. The Village and Its People The village we went to is in ______ township and is known as ______ village. The village is made up of some 225 families and the population is about 905 including Children and Adults. Though the recent storm did not kill the people, it still wiped out more than some 160 bamboo houses. Many are still without home and help did not reach them except for a few times. The Team and their Host After riding the Bus on that risky road for more than 4 hours, we arrived the village at 7:30 pm night. The team was then led by _________ to the family of __________ who gave himself and what he has to be our host. We were well welcomed and fed. At night, _______ was given the privilege to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His message gave challenge to the listeners to think of their soul and to make sure that life is found only in Jesus Christ. Our host, _______ is Buddhist but his wife is Christian. Perhaps, the Lord will use them as a foundation on which we can build or start the ministry of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and building churches. To the Creator It was raining but still the local leaders did their best to gather the people in that house. After short introduction led by _____, I, _____, was able to preach the Gospel that pointed the people to their Creator. I gave some different views that the world has regarding human beings and then I pointed them to the Creator of us and of the universe in which we live. I also encouraged the people that we are to never give up this life, a life for which our Lord, Jesus Christ, had died and rose again. No doubt, the leaders and the people were encouraged to continue to live their life as best as they can with what they have and who they are. Rice Distributed to 225 Families After prayer, the team then began to bring the rice together and distributed to the people. The local leaders helped the team by calling out the name of the family. The 60 bags of rice was entirely distributed and additional help of finance was also given to the Guide and our host. It was such a blessing to have this kind of privilege to help the people. And the people returned to their home rejoicing over what they were just given because of the love of God that the Holy Spirit has poured in our hearts. Future Plan and Our Prayer Our plan and prayer is to send native missionary in this area and we have found out the believer whom the Lord has raised already and we are looking forward to working with him in the near future. Our prayer is that the Lord will use this believer to reach the community of the Cyclone Nargis's victims in this area. The Lord has led someone to us already and our little church is now ready to stand alongside him in his ministry of spreading the news that point people to Jesus Christ, Creator and Redeemer. You can join us through your prayer. Please pray that we will soon be able to work with this believer and that we will also find another right person to spread the Gospel of Jesus in this region. Word From the Team Knowing who we are in ourselves and our personal financial income, it overwhelms our joy as we think of the way God uses us for this purpose and for such a time as this. We realized that without your generous financial contributions and without our contacts in that area, there is nothing we can do by ourselves. We are humbled to be used by God as a link that takes your hands to touch these victims of Cyclone Nargis, and as a tool that points people to the Creator. Below is how we spent the money: 1. Bus Transportation 80 $ 2. Lunch 30 $ 3. 60 bags of rice 900 $ 4. Water and cookies 20 $ 5. Gift given to the host 40 $ 6. Gift given to the Guide 30 $ Total: 1100 $
Sincerely in Christ, ______________ |
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Understand The Times is an independent non-profit organization in
Canada and the United States.
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